MOVING SALE THIS WEEK!

Don't miss the great deal at our Moving Sale!

2 - Days This Week!

Wednesday - Dec. 2nd     10 am - 2 pm

Saturday - Dec.  5th       9 am - 12 noon

Location:  760 Shadowridge Dr, Vista

Questions?  info@sustainablesurplus.org

Bret Grabowski Named SSE Volunteer of the Year

In recognition of his work, above and beyond the call of a volunteer, Bret Grabowski was honored as Sustainable Surplus’ Volunteer of the Year at the North County Philanthropy Council Awards Luncheon, today.

“Bret give us countless hours of support, attends every event, arriving early and staying late,” said SSE executive director Sue Prelozni.  “He gives unwavering assistance to our beneficiaries and to our staff.”

The event, held at the Sheraton Grande Resort, was filled with more than 500 people with a passion. There were 64 nominees, representing 61 local nonprofit organizations.

Mr. Grabowski contributes to the growth in attendance at SSE’s events by actively working on SSE’s marketing committee.  “The most rewarding experience for me has been the giddiness and joy shown by the teachers and those in need when I tell them we provide much-needed supplies free of charge and other items at a very low price,” commented Grabowski. 

He also lends his business acumen by serving on SSE’s advisory committee.  “We are very fortunate and grateful for Bret,” Prelozni added.

SSE Opens Its Doors to Military Families

November 9, 2015 – Active military, veterans, reservists and their families will now have access to the online Exchange of Sustainable Surplus (SSE), a nonprofit that redistributes previously owned corporate items back into the community for use.  This means military members can join for free with the same status of a nonprofit organization and can acquire items at the Exchange at 80- to 90-percent discount on the value of a previously owned item.

The Exchange serves as a distribution center for donated surplus items from local companies.  Items include office supplies, desks, chairs, bookcases, computers, printers – most anything coming out of a business.  “Occasionally, we repurpose refrigerators and couches from corporate executive suites to needy shelters and families,” said SSE executive director Sue Prelozni.

SSE currently works with 14 military organizations in San Diego.  “It just makes sense to increase our outreach to all those who have served our country,” Prelozni said.  Adding military and their family members helps expand the mission of SSE – to repurpose items which have a still-useful life to those in need and to keep senseless waste out of the landfill.

“Sustainable Surplus has been a Godsend for Wounded Warrior Homes,” commented Gene Jennett, assistant director of WWH.  “Having this source of low cost office furniture and supplies has helped us stretch our funds and spend more of the community's donated dollars directly to helping our veterans.”

SSE has supported more than 400 educational, charitable and start-up organizations in San Diego County – benefiting 35,000 teachers, students, nonprofit beneficiaries and entrepreneurs.

“I think it is a great thing that Sustainable Surplus is doing by opening up this amazing resource directly to our veterans,” Jennett added. 

In order to participate in the program, military members just need to register online at www.sustainablesurplus.org. Their membership is free.  For more information about the program, contact SSE at info@sustainablesurplus.org

Clif Bar Family Foundation Repeats Support of Sustainable Surplus

October 25, 2015 - San Diego – For the second year in a row, the Clif Bar Family Foundation (CBFF) chose to support local nonprofit, Sustainable Surplus Exchange (SSE).  The $5000 grant underlines the parallel mission of the two organizations – conserving resources and effecting social and environmental change.

“Among the many organizations we support, Sustainable Surplus continues to stand out as one that offers social and environmental change,” according to Carrie Walle, CBFF program associate.  

The two organizations share several parallel missions - reducing waste while conserving resources and producing green jobs.  Sustainable Surplus diverts unnecessary corporate waste from the landfills by providing companies a direct channel to repurpose their out of use assets to local schools and nonprofit organizations. 

“We have engaged 200 corporations to directly support more than 400 local community organizations with still-useful items,” said SSE executive director Sue Prelozni.  In just four years, SSE has served 30,000 teachers, students, nonprofit beneficiaries and entrepreneurs. 

SSE handles everything from office supplies and furniture to computers and laboratory equipment.  It has repurposed $1.7 million of assets, diverting 400,000 pounds of useable items from going to the landfill.  “

“This grant also supports SSE’s need to increase its capacity to handle the growing asset donations, and as a result, create green jobs in our community,” said Prelozni. It’s a triple win for the environment, community organizations and commerce.

About Clif Bar Family Foundation

Founded in 2006 by Clif Bar & Company Owners & Co-Chief Visionary Officers Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford, Clif Bar Family Foundation supports innovative small and mid-sized organizations working to strengthen the food system and communities, enhance public health and safeguard the environment and natural resources. For more information or to find out how to apply for a grant, visit www.clifbarfamilyfoundation.org.

Sustainable Surplus Wins Award for Small Business

Oct 16, 2015 – Sustainable Surplus Exchange (SSE) won the Small Business of the Year in the “Community Impact” category at the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce awards event.  Several hundred small business owners, community leaders and governmental representatives joined in the celebration held today at the Carlsbad Sheraton Resort.

SSE had been nominated in three categories:  Community Impact, Cornerstone and Woman-Owned or Founded business.  “That’s a first,” commented Chamber president, Ted Owen, when he called their CEO, Sue Prelozni to tell her SSE was a finalist.  The Chamber awards recognize the accomplishments and entrepreneurship of small business owners – the backbone of our economy representing 99.7 percent of all employers in the country.

SSE Board Director Aaron Brooks with Sue Prelozni, CEO

Sustainable Surplus was founded by Ms. Prelozni and launched in 2011. She recognized a need to manage the fall-out of the biotechnology industry’s constant flux – mergers, acquisitions, drug failures, depleted funding. As a result, thousands of still-useful assets were left behind for disposal. Resellers were only buying capital assets. Prelozni designed an innovative donation channel to redistribute left-over assets to fulfill the growing needs of struggling nonprofits, schools and start-ups.

“This has been quite an experience – a lot of passion mixed in with hard work and faith,” commented Prelozni.  “SSE has been blessed by the support of many committed people who volunteer their time to achieve the mission of building a sustainable community.”

SSE has benefited more than 30,000 teachers, students, nonprofit staff and beneficiaries, and start-up entrepreneurs throughout San Diego County.  Of the 400 organizations SSE has supported, more than 10 percent are in Carlsbad.  Today, 200 companies have engaged in sustainable practices and have donated, not disposed, $1.7 million of still usable assets to the program.  As a result, SSE helped divert 374,000 pounds of items from the landfills.

SSE is now in a position to expand its outreach and impact and will be in need of additional warehouse space.  “As the social responsibility of local companies grows, more assets are being donated. Our distribution efforts are doubling and we will need to hire more people to support the community organizations,” Prelozni explained.

SSE Board Advisor Sandy Atkinson wth Sue Prelozni, CEO

The theme for today’s event was “Rising Tides,” based on the idiom "a rising tide lifts all boats," coined by John F Kennedy.  It describes the idea that when an economy is performing well, all people will benefit from it. The idiom is actually from the New England regional chamber of commerce.

SSE Featured at Woman of Success Expo

Come join the celebration of WOMEN OF SUCCESS - NORTH COUNTY EXPO - The organization is launching the expansion to North County on Saturday, October 3rd, 2015. 

Master of Ceremony:  Dr. Ruben Garcia, District Director
Small Business Administration - San Diego

Hear from women business owners on networking, gain insight on how to take a challenge to success. Learn how to network and gain net worth. All women are invited to exchange solutions, find power partners and grow your client base. 

RSVP

Sustainable Surplus is a the nonprofit business spotlight of this event and new member to the "Women of Success."

For more information, therese.bizexpo@gmail.com

Autumn Sale This Saturday

Mark your calendar for the big Autumn Sale on Saturday, September 19! This IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.  Everything on sale -- exchange fees are about 10% of resale value.  Computer monitors only $20-$25.  Office chairs starting at $20; desks starting at $40.  Oodles of stackable chairs in stock.  

Be there or Be Square!
9 am - 12 noon.  SSE Warehouse - 760 Shadowridge Dr., Vista.